Remote

With all of the amenities and comforts that Whitehorse offers, it easy to forget that we live somewhere remote.  Sure, there are frequent power outages, we pick up our mail, and from the Preserve there is no such thing as pizza delivery, but by and large, the comforts of any city are at our fingertips. 

I was reminded this weekend that this isn't the case for the entire Territory. Now don't get me wrong, there is cell phone and Internet in most every community and one would be hard pressed to not find fresh fruit and veggies amidst coke and pepsi, lays and pringles at practically every rest stop/community.  But nature has a funny way of reminding us that she is in charge.

After a few days in Dawson, one cannot help but be reminded of how mother nature continues to cut us off from the world. Despite year round plane and, by and large, vehicle access, and obviously cell phone/internet/tv connections, Dawson spends a significant part of the year in solitude.  This causes people to embrace life and celebrate it to its fullest, and I would argue there is no better place in the world to party than Dawson. Nowhere. While I have not personally been there in winter, I understand their festivals are like no other. Having been there in summer and now in Spring, I can say without a doubt, Dawson is amazing. Its people are incredible, interesting, welcoming and serious partiers. Be warned, Dawson is no place to rest. 

In a town where everyone knows everyone, you get to meet very interesting people.  While I was there, I met a man who had left a lot of stuff at one of the hotels downtown - his kid's crib, his dogs' dishes, etc.  Fact was, they were staying at the hotel, but the river was breaking up so they literally had to run to get across before it broke (once it broke it takes some time before it is safe to cross in a boat - seriously dangerous, enormous ice blocks).

That, to me, sounds unbelievable. However, I did have my own, smaller experience. On our drive home, we had to cross 6 or so locations where the water had washed the road out. In most cases it just meant crossing the water, but in at least 3 spots large parts of the road had been washed away causing a very dramatic drop off! Thanks to the diligent work of endless road crews and the astuteness of our driver, we got home safe and sound.  Its kind of fun, however, to be reminded that Yukon is different, and we have moved somewhere remote.